7. Evaluating and Controlling Technology

< User:Vtaylor‎ | Computers and Society

Parade of crazy people (desfile de los locos) celebrated in San Miguel Allende, Mexico.
_{© Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons}

Who designs innovative technology? Who needs internet access? Who decides? - In this module, we will be looking at some broader issues. There are many issues that are less well defined than some we have explored.

What are the implications for a global society as more of the world's population have access to technology and computing, while many other people do not? Will this imbalance lead to unrest or encourage the have-not's to work harder to close the gap? What technologies are being developed? Who decides what we "need"?


Learning outcomes

• investigate broader issues on the impact and control of technology
• search for web resources that address the future of technologies and society
• evaluate the sources and content
• compare and contrast the issues discussed in the resources
• critically examine an issue and provide a detailed analysis


Keywords

information sources, reliability, authentication, community, digital divide, knowledge sharing, machine learning, control systems, evaluation, automation, feedback, net neutrality, cryptocurrency

Study notes

• Can communities exist in cyberspace? What makes a community? Is it lonely in cyberspace?

• Is "addiction" to the internet real? Is it a problem?

• Is there a "digital divide"? What if anything should be done to resolve or eliminate the problem?

• What are the implications for a global society when some of the world population have access to technoloy, while many other people do not? Will this imbalance lead to unrest or encourage the have-nots to work harder to close the gap?

• Is "free" email really free?

• What skills are being lost? What new skills are being learned or developed? Is this a reasonable trade-off?

• What changes in human life styles are emerging? What are "good"? What are "bad"?